The Pride Ride served NYC at the DC Equality March

In the wee morning hours of Sunday, June 11th, hordes of happy, brightly-dressed New Yorkers gathered at the LGBT Center in Manhattan to get loud. Nope, this wasn’t for an after hours party. It was the beginnings of the Pride Ride, Grindr’s bus service to the National Equality March in DC. The partnership between Grindr and organizers Adam Eli Werner and Andy Simmonds (AKA Hey Rooney) gave a lift to hundreds itching to take part in a historic day in the midst of a immensely tense political climate that’s not favoring the LGBTQ community.

But whatever tensions may have been simmering up to the march weren’t evident on the blazing hot day, as hundreds of thousands amplified positive vibes (and plenty of rainbows) in and around the National Mall. Hilarious signs and empowering chants were also on the menu, as well as plenty of impassioned speakers including the Director of Grindr For Equality, Jack Harrison-Quintana.

So they got a ride to the March and that was that, right? Please. The party continued on the journey back as the Pride Riders – including influencers, queer activists, club kids, and more – cranked up the music and turned the aisle into a runway. Because celebrating equality takes werk, henny.